The Must-Win Encounter In Pool B Of The Vitality Women’s Premier Division

Rod Gilmour of The Hockey Paper previews the must-win encounter in Pool B of the Vitality Women’s Premier Division

Hampstead & Westminster and Wimbledon, two Vitality Women’s Premier Division sides who have packed a punch since arriving in the top flight in the last three seasons, go head-to-head in a London derby on Saturday with a place at Finals Weekend at stake.

“It's like a quarter-final and the winner takes all,” said Kate Richardson-Walsh, the Hampstead & Westminster women’s coach.

With Clifton Robinsons’ sizzling form, a defeat of H&W and a bonus point draw against Wimbledon in Phase 3 of the season, it means that Richardson-Walsh’s side - one point behind Wimbledon - need a win to ensure progression to the league finale next weekend at Surbiton HC.

“When Sarah [Kelleher] and I took over we were in the league below,” said Richardson-Walsh, who has now been joined by wife Helen on the coaching sidelines. "We have risen through to the top of the Premier Division and I expect a really good game.”

With a new phased structure in place this season, the former England and GB great says that the crucial addition to the rejigged league format is that “games matter”.

“It's the ability to win a one-off game,” she said. “We need players to play in higher pressure matches more often and in matches that mean something. It ticks all the boxes that England Hockey are looking for.”

Indeed, Richardson-Walsh cited Clifton as a perfect example of a team who have sat outside the top four, yet have the ability to carve out points against the top sides. However, the new structure did pose some challenges, added Richardson-Walsh, with Robbies having travelled from the West Country to Paddington Rec three times already this season.

H&W still have England star Holly Hunt out with a knee injury for their trip to Raynes Park while Lucy Hyams is back in the fold. Meanwhile, the meeting will be another sideline battle between Rio champions, with Alex Danson-Bennett coaching Wimbledon women.

“We will chat in the bar, friends first and foremost. We have played since something like 2001,” said Richardson-Walsh. 

“Before, during and after the game we are the best of friends. It's still new. For years it's been male players, now there are more women players coaching.”

Having been promoted in 2020, a year after H&W, Wimbledon narrowly missed out on a European place to their weekend opponents last year. 

Wimbledon women, for whom a draw would be enough for them to make the semis, will now be hoping to join the men’s side at Finals Weekend, a scenario which may not have materialised but for a key meeting with disheartened members some 15 years ago.

“We had a major rethink in 2007 when a few of us got fed up with the way the club was going further and further down,” said Ben Rea, former president, chair and current trustee, who has been associated with Wimbledon for 70 years.

“We were in Surrey and Hampshire league 2 with the women around the same position. We had a policy that we needed to boost things, the men led the way and the women followed.”

Now, under Danson and co-coach Colin Cooper, Wimbledon are vying to keep up their battle for a European place. 

“She knows the game so well and coaches better than many, while Colin does the nitty gritty,” added Rea.

“I go to all the games at Wimbledon. I've been doing that for the last 20 years since I stopped umpiring regularly. There are no easy games now and it is a very high standard these days. 

“We have been getting stronger every year and with four Olympians on the women's side obviously makes a big difference for us.”

It would take an improbable pair of results for Clifton to miss out. If they lost by three against Nottingham and Hampstead took the bonus point from a shootout draw with Wimbledon both London teams would progress.

Saturday: Wimbledon v Hampstead & Westminster, 2pm